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Here's a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the home-buying process:

1. Determine your budget: Before you start looking for homes, it's important to determine how much you can afford to spend. This will help you narrow down your search and avoid falling in love with a home that's out of your price range. Consider factors such as your down payment, closing costs, and ongoing mortgage payments.

2. Get pre-approved for a mortgage: Once you have a budget in mind, it's a good idea to get pre-approved for a mortgage. This will give you an idea of how much you can borrow and help you make a stronger offer when you find a home you want to buy.

3. Find a real estate agent: A good real estate agent can help you find homes that meet your…

If you're a new homeowner, you've probably heard about nightmarish renovations and/or discoveries your friends and family have made after moving in. "We just wanted to do x, but discovered x, so we had to spend a fortune replacing x" and "we didn't realize we had a faulty x, which damaged our x" are just a few potentially serious scenarios that could be avoided with a comprehensive home maintenance plan. But if you've got a full-time job, kids, hobbies, and/or pets, creating and following a maintenance schedule is a lot easier said than done. Along with maintenance, home improvements can also be costly (and sometimes downright disastrous) if you don't have DIY savvy. However, the magic of the internet now provides you with the tools you need to simplify…

If you're in the market for a home, or you're fixing up yours to sell, chances are pretty good you'd like to know what "that sticky-outy bit" or "that thing with the holes" or "those parts that go down" are called. We've put together a list of the commonly sought-after (and often misnamed) parts of a house, so your REALTOR® doesn't have to dust off Ye Olde Book of Architecture just to understand what you're trying to say.

• Stair stringer. Also known as stringer board or just string, this is the portion of the staircase that runs the length of the side of the stairs. Technically, there are two stringers, one on either side, but if the staircase is against a wall, you'll typically only see one stringer. The riser of the stair is the vertical part you…

We all know that painting a home or stepping up the landscaping can make a big change in a home's curb appeal, but what about those homes with unique interior details that look bland and boring from the outside no matter what kind of superficial changes are made? Homes borne of the tract housing eras of the late '40s, the '70s and the '90s each have their own difficulties to contend with. If your budget can be stretched a little further than average, you may want to consider making an impactful change on your new home.

The late '40s and early '50s brought the boxy houses we have come to know as ranchers. Oftentimes, these little homes can appear abrupt and homely because there is nowhere for the eye to transition from the facade to the lawn. Extending…

A character home is one that has been around for over 50 years. Heritage homes are character homes with significant historical meaning and are recognized by the presiding jurisdiction. Often, cities will contribute funding to the homeowner(s) for the upkeep of the home. The terms "heritage", "historical", and "character" are generally used in the same way by most people, regardless of whether or not the house in question has been recognized.

Character homes are popular because they're attractive and their architecture will never go out of style, but there are many other reasons to invest (or not invest) in a heritage home. Below you'll find some of the positive and negative aspects of these properties.

• Pro: Walkability. The center of a city is…